Find out how popular the last name Mesta is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Mesta.

Mesta, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Mesta surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Mesta in America

Mesta is the 21119th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Mesta surname appeared 1,243 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Mesta.

We can also compare 2010 data for Mesta to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Mesta

The surname MESTA is believed to have originated in Spain during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Catalonia. It is thought to be derived from the Catalan word "mest," which means "mixed" or "blended," potentially referring to a person of mixed ethnic or cultural background.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the MESTA surname dates back to the 13th century, when it appeared in the "Llibre del Repartiment," a document that recorded the distribution of land and properties after the Christian conquest of Valencia in 1238. This suggests that individuals bearing this surname may have been among the early settlers or colonists in the region.

During the 15th century, the MESTA surname gained prominence due to its association with the influential Mesta organization, a powerful association of sheep farmers and herders in medieval Spain. This organization played a crucial role in the economic and political landscape of the time, and individuals bearing this surname may have been involved in the wool trade or related industries.

One notable figure bearing the MESTA surname was Juan de Mesta (c. 1460-1530), a Spanish explorer and conquistador who accompanied Hernán Cortés on his expedition to Mexico in 1519. He is credited with being one of the first Europeans to witness the grandeur of the Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.

Another historical figure of note was María de Mesta (c. 1520-1589), a Spanish noblewoman and patron of the arts, known for her support of artists and writers during the Spanish Golden Age. Her patronage contributed to the flourishing of literature and the arts in 16th-century Spain.

In the 17th century, the MESTA surname appeared in various records and manuscripts, including the "Libros de Bautismo" (Baptismal Records) of several Spanish parishes, indicating its continued presence and spread throughout the country.

Pedro de Mesta (c. 1625-1698) was a renowned Spanish architect who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings in Madrid, including the Palacio Real (Royal Palace) and the Plaza Mayor.

Lastly, in the 19th century, Miguel de Mesta (1820-1892) was a Spanish politician and diplomat who served as Spain's ambassador to several European countries, including France and the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Mesta

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Mesta.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Mesta was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Mesta has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Mesta was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Mesta, please contact us.

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